Sri Lanka began its second innings with a 138-run deficit to Australia, for which the home team was largely indebted to a stunning maiden home century from Matthew Wade.

The visitors again started poorly at the top of the order, with Tillakaratne Dilshan removed shortly after lunch by Mitch Johnson for five after a smart low catch by Phillip Hughes at third slip. From that point, however, inexperienced opener Dimuth Karunaratne justified, for the first time the series, his place in the team with a fine unbeaten half-century. He was ably supported by Mahela Jayawardene, whose last innings as Test captain has started as authoritatively as his first-innings effort of 72 did.

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Karunaratne and Jayawardene brought up their deserved century partnership in the second-last over before tea and only narrowly failed to eradicate the deficit within a session. The visitors will begin the final session of day three at 1-130 after 31 overs, trailing by only eight runs, with Karunaratne on 83 and Jayawardene on 38.Australia's desperation to break the partnership was evident when it referred a failed leg-before appeal against Karunaratne - on 82 - from the bowling of Peter Siddle in the last over before the break, only to fail because the delivery was predicted to comfortably pass over the left-hander's stumps.

Karunaratne, 24, has so far hit 10 fours and a six. The latter was particularly timely, as it came as he lifted off-spinner Nathan Lyon over long-on to bring up his second Test half-century. He had a life on 54 when he edged behind from Lyon. Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was slow to raise his gloves to pouch the tough chance, resulting in the ball ricocheting off his gloves past captain Michael Clarke at first slip.

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Wade's lapse was in stark contrasting to his batting effort earlier in the day, which handed Australia the first-innings that its batsmen were unable to deliver.

Wade profited from some defiant lower-order support from Peter Siddle (38) and Jackson Bird (6 not out) to reach his milestone just after midday at the SCG. Sri Lanka's ploy of packing the off-side with five outfielders proved futile as the Victorian left-hander picked gaps twice in the 107th over to, somehow, reach the rope.

Australia's stronger-than-expected position allowed captain Michael Clarke to declare just after midday and give his team 20 minutes at the Sri Lankan batsmen before lunch, albeit to no avail.

Wade shared a 77-run partnership with Siddle at the start of day but seemed little chance to score a century when the seamer was followed promptly by Mitch Starc (2) and Lyon (4). Despite only being 70 at the fall of the ninth wicket Wade's chance of tack of hit more lustily paid off spectacularly, although it was also thanks to the diligence of Bird.

While Wade is still to prove entirely convincing at international level with his glovework - reinforced later by him sparing Karunaratne - his reputation as a batsman continues to grow. He thrived on the promotion to number six, as he did on day two, and reached his third Test half-century in the second over of day three before going on to convert that into his second Test century.

The efforts of Siddle, and to a lesser extent Mitch Johnson (13) and Bird, highlighted the benefit of tailenders showing some grit. When Sri Lanka's first bowler came to the crease its innings was over within 15 overs.

Despite Australia boasting an even longer tail, with five specialist bowlers, its innings lasted for an additional 36.2 overs once the first tailender, Johnson, arrived at the crease.